The SCIF

In the security world a "SCIF" ['skiff'] or "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" is a special secured room where classified information is processed and shared.
National security expert, Juliette Kayyem, brings you inside the security world in a deeper way. By exploring the planning and decisions behind our own safety--both nationally and locally-- this podcast takes some of the mystery out of what makes us safer.

In the security world a "SCIF" ['skiff'] or "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" is a special secured room where classified information is processed and shared.
National security expert, Juliette Kayyem, brings you inside the security world in a deeper way. By exploring the planning and decisions behind our own safety--both nationally and locally-- this podcast takes some of the mystery out of what makes us safer.

In the security world a "SCIF" ['skiff'] or "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" is a special secured room where classified information is processed and shared.
National security expert, Juliette Kayyem, brings you inside the security world in a deeper way. By exploring the planning and decisions behind our own safety--both nationally and locally-- this podcast takes some of the mystery out of what makes us safer.

It seems hard to believe that for nearly a week now, the focus of our national attention has been drawn to a spat between the president of the United States and a gold star family grieving their loss. But this is where we are.

With DACA under siege, the woman who led its creation as Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, now finds herself leading the charge against her old agency to protect it. In this episode of The SCIF, Juliette speaks with Napolitano, now the president of the University of California, about how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was conceived and implemented, and why she chose to sue the federal government on behalf of the UC system after the Trump Administration's...

America is not prepared for the consequences of climate change says US Coast Guard Commandant Paul Zukunft. In this episode, Juliette speaks with the commandant about the Coast Guard's role in keeping America safe today, and our lack of preparation for the enormous emerging threats posed by a melting Arctic, rising sea levels, and more powerful storm systems.

Is war with China inevitable? Juliette speaks with Harvard Kennedy School Professor Graham Allison, author of "Destined For War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?" to learn more about how these "great powers" conflicts get started, and most importantly, how they can be avoided entirely.

Following the G20 summit which hosted the first face to face meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Juliette makes the case that President Trump’s words and actions have provided an enabling mechanism for Russians to repeat their sabotage in 2018 and 2020.

Following a string of attacks carried out by so-called "lone wolf" terrorists, Juliette digs into the issue of online self-radicalization and what can be done to prevent it. Her left-of-boom discussion with Tara Maller of the Counter Extremism Project exposes how groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda recruit would-be terrorists, and why social media services like Facebook, Twitter, and Google's Youtube have failed to keep their platforms free of terrorist propaganda.

On the anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11, Juliette hosts a "Right of Boom" discussion with Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer, recounting his experiences during and after the attack, and identifying lessons that other leaders can use should they face a similar crisis in the future.

Juliette gives her top 5 takeaways from the highly anticipated testimony of former FBI Director James Comey before the Senate Intelligence Committee on the investigation into Russian interference in the US election.

The bombing of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England last week was a tragic demonstration of every parent's worst nightmare. While the fear was most acute for the thousands of Manchester parents who frantically searched for signs that their children were safe in the attack's immediate aftermath, millions more across the globe couldn't help but worry about the safety of their own children. In this episode of The SCIF, Juliette Kayyem discusses that fear — a fear she's all too...

On this special edition of The SCIF, host Juliette Kayyem breaks down everything that’s happened in the news over the past week. From Trump firing Comey to the bombshell story in the New York Times about Trump asking Comey to end the investigation into Mike Flynn. While the investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia continues, Juliette offers her take on why the cover up maybe worse than the crime.

On this episode of the SCIF, host Juliette Kayyem provides her thoughts on the firing of FBI Director James Comey and sits down with Former Homeland Security Advisor and Newton native Lisa Monaco to discuss what her litmus test was for waking up President Obama, what life is like after working in homeland security, and the importance of being transparent with the public about the threats they face.

What is the Trump Doctrine? Between strikes in Syria, the use of the MOAB in Afghanistan, and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it can be hard to discern. But the question isn't just academic, it's how we signal our intentions to allies and enemies alike. In this episode of The SCIF, Juliette Kayyem tries to make sense of President Trump's foreign policy doctrine by breaking down his recent military maneuvers.

On March 20th the House Intelligence Committee will hold its first public hearing on Russia's involvement in the 2016 US presidential election. Testimony from many top intelligence community officials could possibly reveal critical information as to scope of Russia's role and if there were any communications with campaign associates here in the United States. So what should you be looking for as the House starts to take a deeper dive into Russia? In this episode of The SCIF Juliette Kayyem...

For candidate Trump WikiLeaks was a tool that allowed him to draw a clear line of distinction between who you could trust and who was “crooked.” It didn’t matter that it was an outside actor clearly working to interfere with the election, the leaks made his opponent look worse and that was good business. Looking at the long game of how such condoning and validation could impact national security simply didn’t factor into the October campaign game plan. In this episode of The SCIF Juliette...